Championship Relegation Battle: Who’s Most at Threat?
The English Football League Championship is renowned for its unpredictability and excitement, and this season is no exception. With only four games remaining, the battles for promotion and against relegation are still wide open. According to analysis by the Racing Post, a staggering 11 points separate Bristol City in fifth place and Sheffield Wednesday in 14th, meaning ten teams are still scrapping for the two remaining playoff places.
However, the relegation battle appears to be the most enthralling, with ten points between QPR in 15th and basement boys Plymouth. The fight against relegation has the most twists and turns still to come, with several teams yet to secure their safety. Plymouth, who defied the odds to stay up last season, are priced at 1-20 for a return to League One, according to the Racing Post. Their tricky final four games against Middlesbrough, Preston, Coventry, and Leeds are the main reason for their short odds.
The Racing Post reports that Luton Town, who were third-favourites for the title and 25-1 for the drop before the season began, are now second-bottom and priced at 1-6 for relegation. However, they have a greater chance to close the gap to safety than their relegation rivals, as they face 21st-placed Derby on Good Friday. As the Racing Post notes, “Some better finishing could have saved Luton sooner – footballxg.com’s expected points table suggests they should be tenth.”
Cardiff and Derby must be considered the two likeliest candidates to join Plymouth in League One next term. The Bluebirds find themselves in the same boat as Luton, as their poor finishing means they are nine places below their spot in 13th in the expected-points table. The Racing Post states that games against Sheffield United, Oxford, West Brom, and Norwich are not likely to yield many points.
Derby, under the influence of John Eustace, have accumulated more points in their last ten games than most teams, which could see them remain a Championship team for at least another season. As the Racing Post observes, “Pressure can make or break a team’s performance during a relegation battle and, with the sides below them all picking up plenty of points in recent weeks, Stoke, who have underperformed at this level for far too long, could be hauled back into danger.”
Stoke City, under Mark Robins, have made a good start, but the Potters are not quite safe yet. They have strung together a four-game unbeaten run but may be left kicking themselves for not taking maximum points from their home clash with Luton. The Racing Post notes that Stoke face the toughest final four matches of any relegation-threatened side, including a home match with Sheffield Wednesday, clashes with Leeds and Sheffield United, and a tricky trip to a resurgent Derby on the final day.
Hull City spent big in January and are reaping rewards, picking up a respectable 19 points in 15 matches, which should ensure their safety. QPR and Preston should also be safe, as they have a sizable gap to the bottom three and favourable matches to come. However, Portsmouth and Oxford are still in danger, having pulled themselves away from the drop zone but still susceptible to the pressure of a relegation battle.
The Championship has once again laid claim to the title of most exciting league in the world, and with so many teams still battling for survival, there could still be plenty more twists to come. As the Racing Post concludes, “The Championship relegation battle is far from over, and it remains to be seen which teams will secure their safety and which will be relegated to League One.”
This article is based on a report by the Racing Post, which provides expert analysis and predictions for the English Football League Championship. For more information, please visit the Racing Post website.
Read more:
* Oxford vs Leeds predictions
* Sheffield United vs Cardiff predictions
* Derby vs Luton predictions
* Expert EFL predictions and free football tips from Aaron Ashley
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